Kevin M. Brown, Partner at our San Diego, Orange County, Los Angeles, and Denver law offices
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Kevin M. Brown

Partner
Biography

Kevin Brown serves as a trusted advisor and experienced advocate for his clients. His primary area of practice is employment law, and he routinely handles commercial litigation. Kevin represents employers in the full range of actions, including wrongful termination, harassment, discrimination, retaliation, sexual assault/negligence, wage and hour class actions, PAGA actions, whistleblower claims, restrictive covenants (non-compete/non-solicitation), trade secrets, and disability accommodation. He also handles business disputes, product liability, and aviation-related matters.

Kevin counsels employers and human resources professionals on compliance with state and federal employment laws, with a focus on best practices — particularly risk identification and mitigation. He also reviews and drafts policies, handbooks, non-disclosure agreements, employment agreements, and severance agreements. A dynamic presenter, Kevin has trained thousands of managers and employees on preventing harassment, discrimination, and retaliation in the workplace. He also conducts independent workplace investigations.

Kevin advises employers in OSHA and Cal-OSHA matters, including drafting and reviewing safety and compliance programs, petitioning for variances, and complying with state and federal standards. He also assists employers in protesting federal and state-issued OSHA citations.

Kevin’s clients are individuals and both for-profit and nonprofit corporations in a wide range of industries, including healthcare, life science and technology, restaurant and hospitality, construction, human resources and payroll, temporary and international technology staffing, retail and aerospace manufacturing, private aviation, churches and other religious organizations, hotel and international temporary housing, educational and professional training, public-interest, transportation and logistics, and international private security.

Prior to joining the private sector in 2016, Kevin served as a military attorney and a naval aviator in the United States Marine Corps, and he continues to serve as a Lieutenant Colonel (Judge Advocate) in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. He also holds an FAA commercial pilot’s license and instrument ratings for fixed wing and rotorcraft-helicopter. Beyond his diverse litigation and first-chair trial experience, clients find that his background solving complex problems and conducting investigations, training, mediations, risk management, and standardization enables him to partner with them to achieve their goals.

Credentials

Bar Admissions

  • California
  • Colorado


Court Admissions

  • Supreme Court of California
  • Supreme Court of Colorado
  • United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
  • United States District Court, Central District of California
  • United States District Court, District of Connecticut
  • United States District Court, Southern District of California


Education

  • University of Colorado Law School (J.D.)
    • Dean’s Advisory Council, Member
    • Bar Association Outreach, Director
    • Student Bar Association, Executive Board Member
    • National Mock Trial Team, Member
    • Military Law Society, Founder
  • University of San Diego School of Law
    • High Pass/Best Oral Advocate/Outstanding Brief, Lawyering Skills I
    • Dean’s Scholarship Recipient
    • Moot Court Associate Board (selected)
    • San Diego Law Review (selected)
  • United States Naval Academy (B.S., with merit, Political Science)
    • Brainerd Award
    • Pi Sigma Alpha
  • U.S. Marine Corps Command & Staff College
  • U.S. Naval Justice School (Military, Trial Advocacy, & Operational Law)
    • Professional Excellence Award
    • Trial Advocacy Award
    • Leadership Award
Experience

Awards & Recognition

  • 2023 Men of Accomplishment, San Diego Metro (2023)
  • The Best Lawyers in America®: Ones to Watch, Labor and Employment Litigation (2023-2025), Labor and Employment Management (2024-2025)
  • 2022 Men of Accomplishment, San Diego Metro (2022)
  • Wiley W. Manuel Certificate for Pro Bono Legal Services, Recipient (2016)
  • Navy Commendation Medal – Superior performance as a Marine Corps attorney (2014–2016)
  • Eight Air Medals – Combat aviator during three overseas deployments (2004–2008)
  • Honor Graduate – United States Naval Aviation Safety School (2005)
  • FAA Commercial Pilot and Instrument Ratings – Fixed Wing and Helicopter (2003)
  • Honor Graduate, United States Naval Advanced Flight Training (2003)
  • President’s Honor Roll, United States Marine Corps Basic Officer’s Course (2002)

Previous Professional Experience

  • Paul, Plevin, Sullivan & Connaughton LLP, Employment Litigation Associate (2017–2020)
  • Morrison & Foerster LLP, Litigation Associate (2016–2017)
  • United States District Court for the District of Colorado
    • Pro Bono Judicial Law Clerk to the Hon. Marcia Krieger (2013–2014)
    • Judicial Extern to the Hon. Christine Arguello (2012)
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
    • Judicial Extern to the Hon. Neil Gorsuch (2012)
  • Colorado Second Judicial District
    • Judicial Extern to the Hon. Morris Hoffman (2012)
  • United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado
    • Law Clerk (2013)

Professional Memberships and Activities

  • Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) Board of Directors – Southern California Wine Country Chapter (2024-Present)
  • National Aircraft Finance Association (2023-Present)
  • National Business Aviation Association (2023-Present)
  • American Bar Association
    • Employment Law Group
    • Occupational Safety & Health Group
    • Military Pro Bono Project Group
  • San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program
  • San Diego County Bar Association
  • American Inns of Court, Honorable J. Clifford Wallace
  • American Inns of Court, Louis M. Welsh (Past)
  • Federal Bar Association (Past)
  • Colorado Bar Association (Past)
    • Military & Veteran’s Affairs Section
    • Colorado Lawyers for Colorado Veterans
  • Law School Si Sue Puede, Mentor (Past)

Community Involvement

  • Palomar Health Foundation, Board Member (2023-Present)
  • Colorado Cub Scout Pack 131, Cubmaster (Past)
  • Congressional Advisory Committee for Nomination to United States Service Academies
    • United States Senator Mark Udall, Colorado (Past)
    • United States Congressman John Shadegg, Arizona (Past)
  • Volunteer performance consultant to Phoenix Police Department Air Unit and Special Assignment Unit (Past)

Representative Presentations and Publications

Military Service

  • Lieutenant Colonel, United States Marine Corps Reserve, Judge Advocate (2016-Present)
    • Reserve Officer in Charge, Legal Services Support Team Miramar
    • Reserve Officer in Charge, Legal Assistance Office Miramar
  • United States Marine Corps, Judge Advocate (2013-2016)
    • Special Assistant United States Attorney
    • Deputy Senior Trial Counsel
    • Assistant Officer in Charge, Legal Services Support Team Miramar
    • Officer in Charge, Legal Assistance Office Miramar
  • United States Marine Corps, AH-1W Super Cobra Attack Helicopter Pilot (2003-2010)
    • Instructor Pilot, Standardization Pilot, Functional Check Pilot
    • Aviation Safety Officer
    • Quality Assurance Officer
    • Future Operations Staff Officer
Client News
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